Wetlands
What makes a wetland different from any other body of water is the fact that it is littered with vegetation and wildlife. Wetlands are the main habitats for a wide range of plant and animal life. Their main purpose serves as water purification, flood control, and stability for the shoreline. Unfortunately, in Louisiana, the wetlands are slowly disappearing. Because New Orleans is below sea level, the city truly depends on these wetlands to act as buffers from storms and hurricanes. "An average of 34 square miles of South Louisiana land, mostly marsh, has disappeared each year for the past 5 decades, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As much as 80% of the nation's coastal wetland loss in thi time occurred in Louisiana. From 1932 to 2000, the state lost 1,900 square miles of land to the Gulf of Mexico" (Tibbetts).
Swamps
The swamp has not only been a huge factor in the development of New Orleans, but they have also become extreme tourist attractions for the city. A swamp is a wetland with saturated soils and standing water. This leads to a large amount of mold and algae growth. The rapid growth of swamps is usually connected to the low elevation, floodplains, and tidal surges.
The Mississippi River
The Mississippi River, running partially through Louisiana, is the primary river of the largest drainage system in North America. The river begins in the northern Minnesota region and slowly makes it's way down 2,530 miles to the head of the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River ranks as the 4th longest and 10th largest river in the world. Although the river's watershed drains into 31 US states, it mainly cuts through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment